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We Can Achieve Anything If We Stop Trying To Do Everything

dariusforoux.com

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Re: We Can Achieve Anything If We Stop Trying To Do Everything

#11

Post by scandox »

There seems to be an assumption here (which I've seen in many other places) that ordinary people are somehow missing this trick, are failing to grasp this. I think everybody knows this - more or less explicitly perhaps. The fact is we might talk about becoming rich, but most of us don't really want to - not in a real way. Not to become worth "millions" in our sixties like this guy's mentor.

People want to live rich, varied, exciting lives: Now. Sure, getting rich or being rich would help...but if it means living in a way that is controlled, patient and strategic for 30 years...well then no they don't really want that.

Re: We Can Achieve Anything If We Stop Trying To Do Everything

#13

Post by afarrell »

rsto wrote: post #2

> it’s much more effective to focus your effort on one thing. This is the gist I got from this post, and while I agree with the statement I think it is too simplistic. I am one of those persons that "have a long list of goals, desires, and wants for your life" as teased in the article. I think it's clear that focus helps to achieve an item on that list. It's the issue of deciding what to focus on, when multiple items…

> If I can't live with that thought, then it has to be done concurrently.

What does it mean to say that you "can't live with" that thought? If in fact having that thought would cause your death, then I recommend avoiding death. However, if you are saying that figuratively, consider the possibility that you might be taking a less effective action simply due to your discomfort with the reality that we have limited time on this earth. Consider the possibility that you might be better off tolerating that discomfort and narrowing your focus to a few things rather than a dozen.

(Or maybe you're just designing a well-balanced week that is made up of tango lessons, a side-project, and your job. I dunno. You're an autonomous agent.)

Re: We Can Achieve Anything If We Stop Trying To Do Everything

#14

Post by svantana »

scandox wrote: post #11

There seems to be an assumption here (which I've seen in many other places) that ordinary people are somehow missing this trick, are failing to grasp this. I think everybody knows this - more or less explicitly perhaps. The fact is we might talk about becoming rich, but most of us don't really want to - not in a real way. Not to become worth "millions" in our sixties like this guy's mentor. People want to live rich,…

Not only that, but saying "rich" is usually shorthand for famous and/or having high social status. The money itself seems to me the least interesting aspect of "making it". Especially in the startup world, what most of us dream of (in my experience), is recognition from our peers, attention, etc, not zeros on a bank statement.

Re: We Can Achieve Anything If We Stop Trying To Do Everything

#15

Post by agumonkey »

keyle wrote: post #10

The only things I've truly succeeded at were simple: I didn't have a choice but to succeed. I guess it's on par with this article, you can't lose focus when you have your back against the abyss. It's your real focus.

When backed against the wall I have 101% of brain capacity. Otherwise it's 70% at best. And that's when my ISP is down.

Re: We Can Achieve Anything If We Stop Trying To Do Everything

#16

Post by kamaal »

agumonkey wrote: post #15
keyle wrote: post #10

The only things I've truly succeeded at were simple: I didn't have a choice but to succeed. I guess it's on par with this article, you can't lose focus when you have your back against the abyss. It's your real focus.

When backed against the wall I have 101% of brain capacity. Otherwise it's 70% at best. And that's when my ISP is down.

David Allen, has said this in his TEDx talk. In moments of crisis and duress, its very easy for the brain to reserve all its cycles to the one task at hand.

However once that moment slips, your mind begins to wander. So a degree of constancy of purpose is needed. And you need a kind of GTD system to prioritize and eliminate what is unnecessary.

Re: We Can Achieve Anything If We Stop Trying To Do Everything

#17

Post by __s »

svantana wrote: post #14
scandox wrote: post #11

There seems to be an assumption here (which I've seen in many other places) that ordinary people are somehow missing this trick, are failing to grasp this. I think everybody knows this - more or less explicitly perhaps. The fact is we might talk about becoming rich, but most of us don't really want to - not in a real way. Not to become worth "millions" in our sixties like this guy's mentor. People want to live rich,…

Not only that, but saying "rich" is usually shorthand for famous and/or having high social status. The money itself seems to me the least interesting aspect of "making it". Especially in the startup world, what most of us dream of (in my experience), is recognition from our peers, attention, etc, not zeros on a bank statement.

When I say "rich" I mean it in shorthand of "enough money to not have to interact with the world socially to make money"

Of course it's a meme that doesn't spread itself, kind of hypocritcal to be posting on a social platform

Re: We Can Achieve Anything If We Stop Trying To Do Everything

#18

Post by tomhoward »

amelius wrote: post #6

I'd add to that: if you always aim too high, take on too difficult tasks, then you'll end up nowhere (but you might learn a lot).

Or: “Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars.” [1]

I'm not strongly for/against either position: both can be true in different contexts.

[1] https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/4324-shoot-for-the-moon-eve...

Re: We Can Achieve Anything If We Stop Trying To Do Everything

#19

Post by ikeyany »

agumonkey wrote: post #15
keyle wrote: post #10

The only things I've truly succeeded at were simple: I didn't have a choice but to succeed. I guess it's on par with this article, you can't lose focus when you have your back against the abyss. It's your real focus.

When backed against the wall I have 101% of brain capacity. Otherwise it's 70% at best. And that's when my ISP is down.

Procrastinators will feel vindicated by this.

Re: We Can Achieve Anything If We Stop Trying To Do Everything

#20

Post by agumonkey »

kamaal wrote: post #16
agumonkey wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When backed against the wall I have 101% of brain capacity. Otherwise it's 70% at best. And that's when my ISP is down.

David Allen, has said this in his TEDx talk. In moments of crisis and duress, its very easy for the brain to reserve all its cycles to the one task at hand. However once that moment slips, your mind begins to wander. So a degree of constancy of purpose is needed. And you need a kind of GTD system to prioritize and eliminate what is unnecessary.

Surely. I also believe we need some training. If you give up at the first mental shortcoming you will take a lot of time. Making a habit of having thinking runs of 30min or a long enough period.

Also, I believe there's another factor at play in crisis, you don't hesitate. Any option will do as long as it's not too absurd. Your brain is full on, but your mind is also more open.

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